Up to $10,000 in down payment assistance available to new MI homebuyers
May 25th, 20217 LANSING — A new program in Michigan seeks to make homeownership more accessible for millennials and working families by providing some help with down payments. The MI 10K DPA program offers homebuyers in certain zip codes across the state – including several in Wayne County – up to $10,000 in down payment assistance, funds that...
Pro-Palestinian protest in Detroit draws 1,000 people
May 25th, 20210 DETROIT — Dearborn resident Zeina Sobh organized a Pro-Palestinian protest with local activists held at 1 p.m., drawing a crowd of some 1,000 people. The crowd gathered for a rally in front of the Spirit of Detroit landmark on Woodward Ave. and E. Jefferson Ave. See Full Story ...
March for Palestine’s liberation in Ann Arbor, May 22
May 25th, 20210 VIDEO: Some 3,000 people (according to Ann Arbor police) gathered in front of Ann Arbor City Hall and walked through downtown Ann Arbor in solidarity with Palestinian victims of devastating Israeli airstrikes, and against Israel's occupation of Palestine. Video: Rasha Almulaiki/The Arab American News...
Tom Wencel running for re-election to Dearborn Heights City Council
May 25th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Coming off of his first term on City Council, Councilman Tom Wencel has decided his job is not done and is running for re-election. “I decided to run for re-election because during my first term on the City Council we have made such tremendous advancements for the residents of Dearborn Heights, and we’re just...
Some 700 protesters rally and march on Sunday, March 23 at Warren City Hall
May 25th, 20210 WARREN — Some 700 protesters rally and march on Sunday, March 23 at Warren City Hall, emphatically demanding local, state and national officials to hold themselves accountable for ending U.S. support for the Israeli apartheid against Palestinians. The event is joined in support by Warren City Council officials, members of Jewish...
Dearborn city clerk accepting absent voter ballot applications
May 25th, 20210 DEARBORN — The city clerk’s office is now accepting absent voter ballot applications for the 2021 municipal primary and general elections. The clerk’s office mailed the applications on May 18. Clerk George Darany said that more than 14,000 absent voter (AV) ballot applications were mailed so registered voters could request...
Public hearing for city budget scheduled for May 26
May 25th, 20210 DEARBORN - The public hearing on the proposed city budget for fiscal year 2022 is set for Wednesday May 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dearborn Administrative Center (DAC). The public hearing invites the public to comment on the proposed budget, which covers expenditures and revenues for the city from July 1, 2021 until June 30, 2022. The...
Two local protests held in ongoing support of Palestinian liberation, drawing crowds in Wayne and Macomb Counties
May 24th, 20210 SOUTHEASTERN MI — Two “Free Palestine” rallies and marches were held last Sunday, May 23, by some 2,000 residents of Wayne and Macomb Counties at Warren City Hall and in Downtown Detroit. These are the latest in a series of protests held within the last two weeks as local resistance efforts continue to organize against the...
Three thousand protesters mobilize in downtown Ann Arbor, demand “Free Palestine”
May 23rd, 20212 ANN ARBOR — Some 3,000 protesters rallied and marched in downtown Ann Arbor last Saturday, May 22, to demand justice for the ongoing state-sanctioned attacks by Israel on the Palestinian people. Despite a ceasefire declared between the Israeli Occupation Forces and Hamas leaders, Israel immediately violated the armistice when the...
Community members discuss COVID-19 vaccines and return to normality
May 22nd, 20210 DEARBORN — On Tuesday, May 18, community members attended a virtual town hall on COVID-19 vaccination held by ACCESS, the ACC, the Protect Michigan Commission, the MDHHS, Unity Community Family Services and The Arab American News. Panel members included Evone Barkho, MD; Sawsan Jamil, MD; Farah Jalloul; Imad Obeid, MD; Madiha...
Bill Bazzi kicks off his campaign for Dearborn Heights mayor
May 22nd, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Friends of Mayor Bill Bazzi helped him kick off his mayoral campaign by hosting a special event fundraiser in his honor. Nasser Beydoun, chairman of the American Arab Civil Rights League (ACRL), hosted the intimate gathering at the Bellagio Banquet Center in Dearborn Heights. “When you pick an elected leader...
Local CINA Radio show host terminated for “Palestine protest” comments on air
May 21st, 20210 DEARBORN — After co-hosting the locally broadcast weekly radio show, “Talking Real Estate” on CINA Radio (102.3 FM) for two years, local attorney Ali Dagher claimed his contract was wrongfully terminated Wednesday. Dagher said this was due to general comments he made on air regarding the local community protests for Palestine he...
Local school leaders say they will not be making changes to the mask requirements in schools
May 21st, 20210 DEARBORN/DEARBORN HEIGHTS — While the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the state Health Department are loosening mask requirements, local school leaders have no plans of doing so just yet. Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Glenn Maleyko said that the district will be continuing as originally planned for the remainder of...
Ceasefire announced for Friday, as progressives push against White House stance on Israel
May 20th, 20210 Israel and Hamas announced a ceasefire across the Gaza Strip border as of Friday, the Palestinian Islamist faction and Egyptian state TV said, bringing a potentially tenuous halt to the fiercest fighting in years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said his security cabinet had voted unanimously in favor of a "mutual...
28th annual Ecorse Creek clean-up happening this weekend
May 20th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The 28th annual Ecorse Creek and Richard A. Young Rain Garden clean-up is scheduled for this Saturday. The event will take place at the Dearborn Heights Recreation Center at 5400 McKinley at Swapka Park from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, May 22. “It is a community awareness get together event,”......
Gov. Whitmer to lift all restrictions by July 1
May 20th, 20210 LANSING — Governor Whitmer announced that all COVID-19 restrictions are expected to be lifted by July 1. On June 1, all outdoor capacity limits will be lifted and indoor capacity limits will be increased to 50 percent. Unvaccinated people will still be required to wear masks indoors through the month. Whitmer also said that on...
District launching Dearborn Public Virtual K-12 school in fall
May 20th, 20210 DEARBORN — With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing thousands of students to try virtual schooling, the district is launching a Dearborn Public Schools Virtual K-12 School. The new school will not have its own physical building, but will operate like a distinct school in the Dearborn Public family of schools. Children in grades K-12......
Salina Intermediate school to host student, parent COVID vaccinations
May 19th, 20210 DEARBORN — In partnership with the Detroit Medical Center (DMC), Dearborn Public Schools will be offering COVID-19 vaccinations at Salina Intermediate school. Dearborn students age 12 and older and their parents are being offered the Pfizer vaccine through the district. The vaccines are being provided by the DMC at 2623 Salina...
“Behind the scenes” documentary on Hamtramck politics premieres on WORLD Channel May 25
May 19th, 20210 HAMTRAMCK — The city of Hamtramck, known to be the nation’s first Muslim-majority city, is the subject of a documentary set to makes its broadcast premiere on the WORLD Channel (formerly PBS WORLD) on Tuesday, May 25. A synopsis for the documentary, titled Hamtramck, USA, says it "goes behind the scenes of small-town politics,"...
Abdullah Hammoud talks of his interaction with Biden in Dearborn, handing him letter on Palestine
May 19th, 20210 DEARBORN - During Tuesday’s visit to Ford’s new electric vehicle factory in Dearborn, President Biden had an interaction with Democratic State Rep., and Dearborn mayoral candidate, Abdullah Hammoud. The visit sparked multiple protests in Dearborn on Tuesday. During that brief conversation, Hammoud was able to hand Biden a letter...
Aspiring physician becomes first Henry Ford College student to win Goldwater Scholarship
May 19th, 20210 DEARBORN — Henry Ford Early College (HFEC)/Henry Ford College (HFC) student Yasmeen Berry has won three prestigious scholarships that will help with her tuition. Berry, an aspiring doctor, will be going to the University of Michigan this fall. The scholarships include The Barry Goldwater Scholarship, The All-USA Academic Team......
Michigan restores work search requirement for unemployment benefits
May 19th, 20210 LANSING — The state of Michigan is reinstating the work search requirement for people receiving unemployment benefits effective May 30. Residents collecting unemployment will now be required to submit their work search information weekly in order to collect their benefits. All seven of the state’s Republican U.S. House members...
Protests persist in response to Biden visit to Dearborn and Palestine’s call for “Day of Action”
May 18th, 20210 DEARBORN — On Tuesday, more than 3,000 local activists and protesters returned to the streets for three separate rallies and marches throughout the day in response to President Biden’s planned visit to the Ford Motor Company’s electric vehicle plant in the city’s Southend. The protests arose in reaction to Biden expressing......
Arab Americans to protest Biden’s visit to Dearborn on Tuesday
May 17th, 20210 DEARBORN – President Biden is expected to visit the Ford’s new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn on Tuesday, May 18, with a possible reception and speech planned to begin around 1:30 p.m. This visit comes as Biden has repeatedly expressed his unwavering support for Israel, whose government is currently bombarding families in...
“We are seeds”: More than 10,000 local residents protest murderous Israeli campaign against Palestine
May 17th, 20210 DEARBORN — More than 10,000 local residents and activists gathered last weekend in protest of the latest Israeli ethnic cleansing campaigns in occupied territories of Palestine over the weekend. The Israeli government has sanctioned tactics of attacks aimed at the dispossession of residents from their homes, recently targeting the......
